Brodie Moran’s mum ‘heard voices in her head’
A MOTHER charged with murdering her eight-year-old son has told police she “heard voices in her head”. Joanne Finch also said that little Brodie Moran’s death resulted from a “momentary lapse in reason”, sources allege.
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A MOTHER charged with murdering her eight-year-old son has told police she “heard voices in her head”.
Joanne Finch also said that little Brodie Moran’s death resulted from a “momentary lapse in reason”, sources allege.
Ms Finch was calm and articulate when officers arrived at the tragic scene at a rented Mornington Peninsula property on Thursday afternoon.
NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS REMEMBER HAPPY BRODIE
Brodie was suffocated, the sources confirmed. His dad Lee Moran, who is estranged from Ms Finch, has made a mercy dash from China.
“I have lost the best part of me,” he said.
Ms Finch will spend her 42nd birthday behind bars today. Her last Facebook post pushed for a tougher sentence for a woman who escaped jail despite bashing her baby daughter and threatening to throw her off a balcony.
Ms Finch appeared dazed when she appeared briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday, but indicated she understood the proceedings. She asked for antidepressant medication.
She told police she was estranged from Brodie’s father.
Her murder charge stunned her closest friends, who said they could not comprehend it.
“This woman is truly beautiful inside and out,” a friend said.
Another, who didn’t want to be named, said: “She is a beautiful person. I can’t even think right now.”
The Tootgarook home where Ms Finch lived with Brodie was going to be auctioned today, but agents took down signage and have delayed the sale as a result of the tragedy that has stunned the small community.
Ms Finch rang triple-0 about 1.30pm on Thursday asking for help, but Brodie was already dead when police officers arrived.
She will return to court on June 29.
Mr Moran, who lives in Shanghai, China, posted on Facebook: “At the moment I feel so empty, still in shock.”
“I have lost the best part of me,” he wrote.
“Words cannot describe how much I love and miss my little fella.”
Neighbours have said a man, believed to be Ms Finch’s boyfriend but not Brodie’s father, also lives at the property.
There had been no sign of the man throughout the day at the three-bedroom home.
Ms Finch’s last Facebook post was a link to a Change.org petition she had signed calling for a retrial for a South Australian woman for the aggravated assault of her baby daughter.
The petition read in part: “The only place this woman needs to go is behind bars, there is so many children who are left in care of violent families and once the children lose their lives it is to late for you to say sorry!”
Mourners placed bunches of brightly coloured flowers outside the rented home.
A number of students from Tootgarook Primary School — where Brodie was in grade two — visited the home to leave notes, teddy bears and flowers.
One of the notes read “we love you Brodie”.
“God bless little man. RIP. The angels will be with you now,” another read.
Brodie moved to the school last year, and was awarded Student of the Week weeks into the first school term.
“You have made many new friends already and are following the Year One BE’s well. Your handwriting has amazed your teachers,” a note in the school newsletter said.
Ms Finch is originally from the UK where her parents and sisters still live. One sister is due to give birth any day.
Despite the distance, Ms Finch would keep Brodie’s grandparents up to date with photos of family trips and milestones. Brodie even sings a song for his grandparents, in one video, and bursts out in an infectious giggle.
“Let me see,” he asks his mum who was recording the short clip on her phone.
Photos show a well travelled family, support of many friends and making the most of the outdoors.
Playing in sand, having fun at Legoland, running through waterfalls, feeding birds on a camping trip down the Great Ocean Road, going on rides at carnivals and roaring like a lion in China in front of the mammal’s statue are some of the happy snaps shared.
Ms Finch was a lover of Volkswagens, watched Elton John at a winery concert and was even Wonder Woman at a dress-up party.
NEIGHBOURS REMEMBER HAPPY BOY
NEIGHBOURS said the news of the eight-year-old’s death comes as complete shock.
Marie Kelly, who lives opposite the property, told the Herald Sun the boy’s mother “was a very nice lady” who loved gardening.
“She had a little boy the same age as my granddaughter, I think he’s played with her once or twice,” she said.
“She was a nice person and he was a happy little boy, I can still see him riding his little scooter around.”
Mother and neighbour Kelly Wood said it was an absolute tragedy.
“When it’s that close it affects you, it definitely affects you,” she said.
“I saw the police tape there and just waited to see what had happened — you fathom the worst and hope for the best.
“I’ve seen the mother with the child trick or treating. They’re a normal family, trampoline out the front.”
Antoniella Bernovic, who has lived in the street for 19 years, said the family was always friendly and waved.
“I’ve seen the little boy a few times out the front jumping on the trampoline — he always seemed happy enough,” she said.
“ I can’t believe something like this can actually happen on your doorstep.
“They are friendly. Every time I see them they wave and say hello; you wouldn’t have picked it.
“It makes me feel sick to my stomach, I couldn’t even think of how someone could actually do something like that.”
Tina Wallace, who also lives in Alma St, said it was “horrifying” to hear of the child’s death.
“It’s absolutely tragic,” she said.
“I’ve got a 10-year-old son myself and it scared the hell out of me to hear what had happened.”
The neighbourhood appears to be home to mainly young families and pensioners.
Forensics officers were seen combing the home yesterday evening, with crime-scene tape cordoning off part of the street.
The exact circumstances of the boy’s death are unclear, but the Herald Sun understands the family had no previous involvement with police.
Brodie did not attend school on Thursday, with classmates thinking he was sick.
HOME LISTED FOR SALE
An agent from RT Edgar real estate agency removed a for sale sign from outside the house.
The home was scheduled to be auctioned today but the sale has now been delayed.
The three-bedroom home was listed last month. Real estate agency photos revealed a suburban life — with family photos on the fridge and walls. Living room photos show several guitars, an amplifier and music books.
The home is described as the “ideal holiday getaway” in an online auction listing with a $550,000 price guide.
“Situated approximately 700m to the sand and the sparkling waters of Port Phillip Bay, this original beach house is ideal as a holiday getaway or an excellent investment,” the listing reads.
A real estate agent named in the listing declined to comment.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au
— Additional reporting from Genevieve Alison, Ashley Argoon and Christine McGinn (AAP)